Materials / Compare

Plastic HDPE vs. Plastic POM/Acetal

Compare Plastic HDPE vs. Plastic POM/Acetal strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic HDPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic POM/AcetalBulk polymer (molded or machined)
MechanicalPlastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Yield strength24MPa169MPa22.88x stronger
Ultimate tensile strengthnot stated (yield given)69MPa2
Compressive strengthnot sourced124MPa2
Flexural strengthnot sourced99MPa2
Elongation at breaknot sourced75%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)0.9GPa12.8GPa23.11x stiffer
Density950kg/m³149% lighter1,420kg/m³3
Strength to weight25.3kN·m/kg48.6kN·m/kg1.92x higher
Stiffness to weight0.947MN·m/kg1.97MN·m/kg2.08x higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.4–0.4540.352
Shear modulus0.316GPa1.04GPa3.28x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus2GPa3.11GPa1.56x higher
Speed of sound973m/s1,404m/s44% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPlastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Thermal conductivitybase material0.4–0.49W/m·K40.4W/m·K2
Thermal expansionbase material120µm/m·K4mean122µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing600µm growth2% less610µm growth
Specific heatbase material2,250J/kg·K41.54x higheraverage -18 to 100 °C1,465J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.208mm²/s8% faster0.192mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance56.9W/m8% more resistant52.5W/m
Melting pointnot sourced175°C2
Max service temperaturenot sourcedHDT 1.8 MPa125°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: LyondellBasell, DuPont, INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Plastic HDPE
LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values
Plastic POM/Acetal
DuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com
  1. 1
    Hostalen 23050 B Product DataLyondellBasellPlastic HDPE · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527Plastic HDPE · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527Plastic HDPE · Density: typical, ISO 1183
  2. 2
    Delrin Acetal Resin Design Guide, Module IIIDuPontarchived copyPlastic POM/Acetal · Yield strength: typical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength)Plastic POM/Acetal · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalPlastic POM/Acetal · Compressive strength: compressive stress at 10% deformationPlastic POM/Acetal · Flexural strength: flexural yield strength, typicalPlastic POM/Acetal · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic POM/Acetal · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic POM/Acetal · Poisson's ratio: typicalPlastic POM/Acetal · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic POM/Acetal · Thermal expansion: mean, 29 to 60 °CPlastic POM/Acetal · Specific heat: average -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific)Plastic POM/Acetal · Melting point: crystalline melting pointPlastic POM/Acetal · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (annealed)
  3. 3
    Delrin 100 Product Data SheetDuPontPlastic POM/Acetal · Density: typical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties')
  4. 4
    Typical Engineering Properties of High Density PolyethyleneINEOS Olefins & Polymers USAarchived copyPlastic HDPE · Poisson's ratio: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)Plastic HDPE · Thermal conductivity: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)Plastic HDPE · Thermal expansion: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)Plastic HDPE · Specific heat: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic HDPE stronger than Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic POM/Acetal is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (2.88x).

Which is lighter, Plastic HDPE or Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,420 kg/m³ for Plastic POM/Acetal.

Which is stiffer, Plastic HDPE or Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic POM/Acetal is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.8 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Plastic POM/Acetal deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic HDPE or Plastic POM/Acetal?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic HDPE is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic HDPEPlastic POM/Acetal
Stiff rod or tie (tension)2.08x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)18% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter2% heavier
Strong rod or tie1.92x heavierlighter
Strong beam35% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate13% heavierlighter

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic HDPE or Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic HDPE expands less: 120 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.

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